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Office of Student Development

Lorie Sheetz, Vice President of Student Affairs & Dean of Students
The faculty, staff, students and administration at Shippensburg University pride themselves on having a campus community that fosters student learning, teaches citizenship, and encourages personal development. An integral part of this community is the committed, student-centered people who comprise the Office of Student Development.

Mission Statement

Staff members within the Office of Student Development plan and deliver comprehensive programs and services:

that support the mission of the university and enhance the learning experience for students;
that foster the overall development of students; and
where social justice, community, character, and citizenship are the cornerstones.

Organizational Values

Student Centered: We strive to be welcoming, fair, respectful, service-oriented and ethical when interacting with students. It is also our obligation to be "in-touch" with the student culture at the university. Finally, we are committed to serving as both role models and advocates for students.
Social Justice: We strongly believe in the importance of the values and concepts associated with human understanding, social equity and multiculturalism.
Learning: We believe in the importance of the academic mission. We also believe that students learn in a variety of ways and in a variety of settings. To this end, we strive to support and collaborate with others in the delivery of programs and services that promote student learning. We also strongly believe in the concept of student development and all that it encompasses.
Collaboration: We recognize that we are part of a greater whole and not an entity unto ourselves. Our willingness to collaborate positively serves both external constituencies and the university community.
Engagement: We strive to be actively engaged in the University community through both formal service and informal means, including attendance at campus events and general visibility on campus.
Innovation: We are committed to continually improving our programs and services consistent with current trends and issues, best practices, and evaluative feedback. We also recognize the importance of effectively utilizing technology where appropriate.
Team: A commitment to a team-oriented work environment is essential. Relationships are characterized by trust, respect, support, communication, cooperation and friendliness.
Community: It is our belief that the concept of community, as defined by Ernest Boyer, represents an important theme and structure in all that we do. It is also a concept that gives meaning to our mission, values, and operation.

Strategic Goals

Student-Centered: To offer programs and services that assist students, that are implemented in a fair and consistent manner, and that empower students to be actively involved in decision-making and delivery processes.
Social Justice: To foster and promote an environment where students, staff, and faculty engage in the celebration of diverse lifestyles, reflected daily through speech, conduct, attitude and active involvement in the community.
Learning: To offer programs and services, in partnership with students, student affairs and academic affairs that positively impact the learning experience, both inside and outside the classroom, for students.
Collaboration: To actively seek ways to exchange knowledge and resources with academic affairs, administration, staff, students, parents and the greater community to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of programs and services.
Engagement: To serve as role models for active engagement in and service to the University community.
Innovation: To develop programs and services that meet the needs of students and reflect current theories, practices, trends and assessment techniques.
Team: To foster a cohesive, evolving organization through collaboration, consultation, open communication and support in an effort to promote meaningful experiences for our various community constituencies.
Community: To create shared learning experiences that help students see beyond their own private interests, learn about the world around them, develop a sense of civic and social responsibility, and discover how they, as individuals, can contribute to the larger society.